Type casting machines for the printing trade



March 1965 H. P. WHITTAKER 3,175,678

TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Filed Ndv. 2a. 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 30, 1965 H. P. WHITTAKER TYPE CAST ING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Filed Nov. 23, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 30, 1965 w rr R 3,175,678

TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Filed Nov. 23, 1962 v Sheets-Sheet s March 30, 1965 H. P. WHITTAKER 3,175,6'7g

TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Filed Nov. 25. 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 30, 1965 H. P. WHITTAKER TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Filed Nov. 23, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 30, 1965 H. P. WHITTAKER TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 23, 1962 B S E a 2% flJ E m8 3% wfinm NE 5Q HH- 1 m U q UD v2 m3 m2 9% I March 30, 1965 I H. P. WHITTAKER 3,175,678

TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Filed Nov. 25, 1967:! 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Q) Q: )1 N J ls 1 g:

a; N Q 2 08 a; 5 E x L fir 9 PS/J 3,175,678 TYPE CASTING MACHINES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE Harold P. Whittaker, Thorner, near Leeds, England,

assignor to M. H. Whittaker & Son Limited,

Leeds, England Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,471 6 (Ilaims. (Cl. 199-47) This invention relates to type casting machines of the kind which are adapted for producing slugs and in which the selected matrices are assembled in a setting stick and presented to one open side of a mould into which mould from the other side thereof molten metal is forced from a pot, the resulting cast slug being generally removed after rotating a mould wheel carrying the mould or moulds.

In setting up type for printing where line spacing material, borders and the like are required, the strip is cast in a separate casting machine. This separate casting machine involves a heavy outlay of capital and it is the chief object of this invention to obviate this requirement and to provide an improved slug casting machine adapted to be converted by simple adjustments for the casting of continous strip, thus enabling one machine to perform two functions, with a considerable saving in initial cost.

A machine according to the invention has a metal pot assembly and a clamping block assembly each movable on opposite sides of and towards and away from a mould carrier which is adapted to present either a slug mould or a strip mould between the pot outlet and the block, and means for controlling the movements of these two assemblies whereby slugs can be cast when matrices are held in the clamping block and alternatively continuous strip can be cast and can be drawn from the strip mould by a gripper device associated with the clamping block. The strip thus produced may be of any desired length to be cut into sections as required.

There are two means used for achieving strips of preselected length. In one combination, the pot assembly and clamping block assembly are mounted to be reciprocated on one (either) side of a rotary mould wheel to present the pot outlet and the type matrices in the block to opposite sides of a slug mould in which the slug body is formed. For another combination, the pot assembly is held with its outlet against one side of a strip mould in the mould wheel While the clamping block assembly is used to reciprocate with a clamping and unclamping action of its gripper device to draw from the mould the continuous strip which is cast therein by a succession of casting and drawing operations.

The metal pot with its pump may be of any suitable construction and is mounted in horizontal slideways and carries a slug ejector, while the clamping block is similarly mounted and has means for clamping either a setting stick for matrices and/or a gripper device for the cast strip. The strip mould may be similar to the slug mould and surrounded with cooling passages or chambers and mounted diametrically opposite to the slug mould. Any suitable form of power mechanism may be used for reciprocating the pot and block and operating the pot pump and mould wheel, and a suitable control system (e.g. electrical or pneumatic) will be arranged to control these operations and govern their timing and sequence.

In order that the invention may be fully and clearly comprehended the same will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example one arrangement of means for carrying out the invention and certain preferred constructional forms thereof. In these drawings:

FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate diagrammatically the arrangement of the main parts of the machine as used for casting slugs and strip respectively;

3,175,678 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 FIGURE 3 is a sectional side elevation through a preferred form of machine, the section being taken mainly on the line X-X in FIGURE 4, all hydraulic and electrical connections being omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a plan of the machine shown in FIGURE.

3, omitting the means for operating the pot pump;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation, with the upper part in central section, of part of the discharge end of the machine showing the mould wheel and clamping block;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the line Y in FIGURE 5 but showing a part-section through the gripper operating means.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a suitable hydraulic system for operating the machine illustrated in FIGURES 3 to 6;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a suitable electrical system for controlling the operation of said machine by said hydraulic system.

Referring first to FIGURES l and 2 of these drawings, the pot 1 for molten metal has a pump 2 operated by the hydraulic piston of a cylinder 13, e.g. a hydraulic jack and carries a slug ejector plate 3. This pot assembly comprising pot, pump and plate can be reciprocated horizontally by a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit A, e.g. a hydraulic jack to move the pot outlet into and out of contact with one face of a mould in a rotatable mould wheel 45. The mould wheel 45 can be rotated forwards and backwards through about its horizontal axis 5 by gearing 6 actuated by the hydraulic piston of a cylinder C, e.g. a hydraulic jack and can also be independently turned manually by a handwheel 48 to bring any desired mould-receiving part of the wheel into position for automatic operation.

The hydraulic jack unit A is also arranged to operate, through a mechanical connection indicated generally by 8, a clamping block 9 to move this towards and away from the other face of the mould wheel. The block 9 can have clamped in it a setting stick S2 for casting slugs (see FIGURE 1); it can also house a gripper device indicated generally by 11 operated by the hydraulic jack D for strip casting (see FIGURE 2), or it can be replaced by such a gripper device.

The hydraulic jack unit A may be termed a floating unit in that one member (e.g. the cylinder) moves the pot I and the other member (i.e. the ram) moves the block 9, the pot and block being interconnected by means hereinafter to be described so as to move in correct phase with one another. Also the hydraulic system for the hydraulic jacks A, B, C, D will be controlled by an elec trical control system including limit switches, pressure switches and other suitable devices to enable the machine to operate automatically through one cycle or a repetition of cycles. Examples of these systems will be described hereinafter.

The operation of the machine is as follows. When producing slugs (FIGURE 1) the operator sets the matrices in the setting stick 52 which he then inserts in the clamping block 9. On starting the machine, the pot 1 and the block 9 are moved up to the stationary mould wheel 45 by hydraulic jack A and are firmly held there hydraulically. Metal is then pumped into the mould to form the slug, air escaping by ventilation grooves. The pump plunger 2 is then withdrawn by hydraulic jack B and the pot and block are moved back, whereupon the mould wheel is turned by mould cylinder C through 90, a static knife trimming the base of the slug as is well known. The pot is moved forward again by hydraulic jack A to cause its ejector blade 3 to eject the slug from the mould, and then retracts to enable the mould wheel to be turned back to its original position, thus completing the cycle of operations.

The setting stick used as above described may be constructed so as to hold the standard matrices of all usual kinds of keyboard operated line composing machines. This would include matrices carrying two characters, and the stick would in that case be constructed so that it could be simply reversed in the clamping block 9 to bring the alternative characters into line with the mould. Alternatively, the stick may be constructed to hold all forms of matrix which are manufactured for hand composition.

To adjust the machine for producing continuous strip (FIGURE 2), the mould wheel is turned by handwheel 48 to bring a strip mould into the casting position (or the strip mould can be inserted in the wheel in place of the slug mould) and the pot 1 is advanced to this by hydraulic jack A and locked by positive means in its forward casting position. A dummy piece of type metal strip for starting the casting process is inserted in a slot in the clamping block 9 opposite to the gripper device Ill with its end projecting into the mould. On starting the machine the strip is positively gripped by operation of gripper hydraulic jack D, metal is pumped into the mould and is cast on to the end of the dummy strip which is slowly drawn away from the mould by movement of the block produced by pot hydraulic jack A at a speed slow enough to allow the metal to solidify before it leaves the mould. At the end of the blocks stroke, the gripper device 11 is released, the pump plunger 2 withdrawn, the block moved forward to the mould again, the gripper device re-applied to the strip and the cycle of operations repeated as many times as desired to produce a continuous strip.

The gripper device may alternatively be automatic, e.g. spring-actuated and selfreleasing, thereby dispensing with gripper hydraulic jack D.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 to 6, the machine has a frame 29 supported on legs 21 and carrying in bosses 22 two parallel horizontally slidable rods 23. These rods are tied together at their ends by a tie bar 24 and by the clamping block 9 and carry compression coil springs 25 which normally urge the block 9, as shown to the left in FIGURES 3 and 4 into its slug casting position.

The pot 1 is of substantially known construction being electrically heated and having a discharge passage 26 leading from a well 27 to an outlet 28 which is the width of the slugs to be cast, and having a plunger 2 which co-operates with an inlet 2B and which incorporates a gravity-operated one-way valve member 29 arranged to close a duct 30 connecting the upper and lower faces of the plunger. This plunger is connected pivotally by link 31 to one arm of a bellcrank lever 32 which is pivotally supported upon the frame 20 and which has its other arm connected to the ram rod 33 of pot hydraulic jack B, this hydraulic jack being pivotally mounted on frame 20 and having a pressure switch PS1 (see FIG- URE 7) in its pipe line.

The pet I is mounted slidably by sleeves 36 upon the rods 23 and is secured by bar 34 to the pot hydraulic jack A whose ram rod 35 is connected to tie bar 24 with an interposed spring 35X to enable block 9 to be pressed resiliently against the mould wheel. On a yoke 37 secured to bar 34 and slidably supported in tie bar 24 is a limit switch LS1 which co-operates with a contact arm 38 on tie bar 24. The yoke also carries an adjustable contact disc 39 which co-operates with a limit switch LS2 on tie bar 24.

Two arms 40 pivotally mounted between frame 20 and pot cylinder A are interconnected by a crossbar 41 which can be engaged by a clamping arm 42 mounted on bracket 43 secured on frame 20, whereby actuation of operating lever 44 can lock the pot 1 in its casting position. This clamping device may be of known construction and is shown in FIGURE 3 in the clamped position although it would actually be unclamped during slug casting.

A four-sided mould wheel 45 is mounted upon shaft 46 and is arranged to be rotated through 90 by gearing in a gear box 47 actuated by the ram of the mould wheel cylinder C which ram co-operates with two limit switches LS3 and LS4 (see FIGURE 7). The mould wheel can also be turned to any desired position by handwheel 48 on disconnection of any suitable form of clutch mechanism housed in clutch box 49.

Each side of the wheel 45 can have secured on it a mould 50 with casting slot 51 which slot can be located opposite to the pot outlet 28.

The clamping block 9 can have clamped thereon a setting stick 52 carrying a line of matrices 53 by a clamp 54 mounted on three spindles 55 with interposed springs 56, the spindles being slidable through the block 9 and the centre one being connected to a rod 57 pivotally connected by link 58 to a toggle device 59 which is piv= oted upon a bracket 60 secured on the block 9 and which has a handle 61. In FIGURES 3 to 5 the clamp is fon to hold the setting stick, but the oil position of handle 61 is shown in FIGURE 5 in dot and dash lines. Any other suitable form of clamp may, however, be used.

The block 9 incorporates a gripper device for use when casting strip. As shown best in FIGURES 5 and 6 this consists of a gripper pad 62 pivotally carried on a gripper bar 63 which is pivoted at one end at 64 in the block 9 and pivotally connected at its other end through a link 65 to the ram rod 66 of gripper cylinder D having a pressure switch PS2 (see FIGURE 7) in its pipe line. The pad 62 can alternately grip and release the cast strip which lies in the passage 67 after emerging from the strip mould, and its pivotal mounting makes it self-adjusting to equalise its gripping pressure across the strip.

Each of the hydraulic jacks A, B, C and D is double; acting and each has its own solenoid-operated control valve. Hydraulic jacks are coupled to a source of hydraulic power though a hydraulic system such as that of FIGURE 7 and the solenoids are connected to a source of electrical power through an electrical system such as that of FIGURE 8 which includes the limit switches and pressures switches already mentioned, these two systems being constructed and arranged (as will be evident to those skilled in the art concerned) so that the macmne can be set to operate automatically with the various oper ations taking place in the correct phasing. V

The operation of the above described machine will be easily understood in conjunction with the description referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, but may be summarised as follows:

To cast a slug, the operator inserts a loaded setting stick in block 9 and clamps it by raising handle 61 to the full-line position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, and a suitable mould 50 for the slug body is fixed in wheel 45' at the uppermost position. When he pushes a start button, hydraulic jack A extends to move pot 1 and block 9 against the mould wheel and then operate switch LS1. This causes hydraulic jack B to operate plunger 2 to extrude metal into the mould until switch PS1 is operated. This causes hydraulic jacks A and B to reverse until A operates switch LS2. This causes hydraulic jack C to rotate the mould wheel through so that the cast slug is vertical instead of horizontal, and then operation of switch LS4. causes hydraulic jack A to advance the pot 1 so that its ejector plate 3 ejects the cast slug and operates switch LS1. This reverses the hydraulic jack A to withdraw the pot until switch LS2 is operated, whereupon hydraulic jack C returns the mould wheel to its original position and operates switch LS3 to stop the machine.

The setting stick would be re-loaded or another oneinserted in the block 9 and the above cycle of operations.

inserted beneath gripper pad 62. On the operator select.--

ing the desired sequence of operations by selector means in the electrical system, hydraulic jack A extends to move pot 1 and block 9 against the mould wheel where the pot is locked against movement by actuation by the operator of locking handle 44, and switch LS1 is actuated but does not operate. When the operator starts the machine, LS1 operates to cause hydraulic jack D to operate gripper pad 62 to grip the strip and to operate switch PS2. This causes hydraulic jack A to move block 9 slowly to draw out a short length of cast strip while hydraulic jack B operates plunger 2 to extrude metal, until switches LS2 and PS1 are operated. These cause hydraulic jack D to release gripper pad 62, hydraulic jack B to withdraw plunger 2, whilst hydraulic jack A returns block 9 to casting position and operates switch LS1 to repeat the cycle of operations automatically.

To avoid a formation of a partial vacuum or hydraulic lock in the passage 26 on upward movement of plunger 2 (there being no air inlet to the passage 26 at the pot outlet 28), the one-way valve 29, 39 allows metal to pass down through the plunger.

In FIGURE 7, hydraulic jacks A and B are indicated with their rams in the inward position and hydraulic jacks C and D with their rams in the outward position, and each has its own control valve and solenoid Alt-A2, B1432, C1C2 and Dl-DZ. The valves are coupled by pipes as shown including a non-return valve NRV to a pump P which draws oil from a tank OT and has a pressure regulating valve PRV.

FIGURE 8 indicates these solenoids; also relays T, V, W, X, Y, and Z having corresponding pairs of contacts T1, to T4, V1, W1, X1 to X4, Y1 to Y3 and Z1 to Z4, of which V1 and Y1 are mercury switches; contacts R1 to R8 all embodied in a Single switch for selecting either sequence of operations, that is slug casting or strip casting; a start button SB; an emergency stop switch SS; and a changeover switch MA for selecting manual or automatic repetition of each sequence of operations.

These systems operate as follows.

Slug casting With switch MA in the manual position and switch Rl-R8 correctly set, the sequence of operations is started by pressing the start button SB; this energises relay T which is maintained via contact T1 because PS1 is in the position shown.

As a result, solenoid A2 is energised via X1 and R3 which are in the positions shown. As A moves forward LS2 changes over to the position shown in the diagram, but as solenoid C2 is energised via contact X4 no change takes place. As A proceeds still further LS1 changes over to the opposite position to that shown on the drawing and energises solenoid B2 via R1, X2 and R4. When B is fully forward PS1 changes over from the position shown on the drawing and energises relay X, which holds in via X3. With the manual sequence in use, this will also trip relay T, but if the sequence is automatic relay T will remain energised because LS3 is still closed. Contact X1 will (lo-energise solenoid A2 and contact X2 will de-energise solenoid B2. Contact X4 will close so that solenoid C2 can be energised the next time LS2 moves from the position shown on the diagram.

As solenoid A2 moves in, LS1 will change over to the position shown on the circuit diagram, but this will have no effect because B2 has already been switched off by X2. When hydraulic jack A is fully retracted LS2 will change over from the position shown on the diagram and as X4 is now closed solenoid C2 will be energised via Y2. As hydraulic jack C moves back LS3 will open, but as PS1 is now in the position shown on the diagram relay T will still remain closed via T1, if the equipment is operating in the auto position. When ram C is fully retracted LS4 will close and operate relay Y. Contact Y4 will close to stop C2 being de-energized when LS2 returns to the position shown on the diagram. Y2 opens to allow relay V to be de-energised when LS2 changes over. Contact Y1, which is a mercury tube which closes for about one quarter of a second on energising only, will operate relay Z which will hold itself in over contact Z1. Solenoid A2 will be operated by Z2 through R3.

As ram moves out LS2 will change over to the position shown on the diagram, but as Y4 is closed solenoid C2 will not be de-energised. When hydraulic jack A is fully extended LS1 will change over from the position shown on the circuit diagram. This will de-energise Z1 which will switch off solenoid A2 via Z2. As hydraulic jack A moves back LS1 will return to the position shown on the circuit diagram, but relay Z will not energise because there is only a circuit through Y1 for about a quarter of a second when relay Y is energised.

When hydraulic jack A is fully retracted LS2 will change over to the opposite position to that shown on the circuit diagram and relay V will be energised again. 6n this occasion only relay Y is energised and contact Y3 is closed, relay Z is tie-energised and contact Z3 is closed, so that relay W will operate.

Contact W1 will trip relay X and contact X4 will deenergise solenoid C2. Although X1 will close, solenoid A2 will not be energised because relay T was tripped by PS1 if the circuit was operating in the manual position, and by Z4 if the circuit was operating in the auto position. Contact X2 will also close, but as LS1 is in the position shown in the diagram there will be no supply put on to solenoid B2.

As hydraulic jack C moves forward LS4 will open which will switch oft relay Y. Contact Y2 will close but C2 is energised via X4. Contact Y3 will open and switch oil relay W. Contact W1 will not re-energise relay X because PS1 is in the position shown and the maintaining contact X3 will naturally be open.

When hydraulic jack C is fully extended LS3 will operate and this will complete the cycle or operations, or will restart the cycle it the switch MA is in the auto position.

During this first sequence, hydraulic jack D remains fully extended because its solenoid D2 is energised via R6.

Strip casting This sequence of operations is achieved by operating the switch Rl-R8. As soon as this sequence is selected solenoid A2 will be energised via PS2 and the normally open contact of R3 which is now closed. R7 ensures that relay X cannot be operated and consequently X4 holds solenoid C2 in the fully extended position with hydraulic jack C out of action.

As soon as start button SB is pressed, relay T is energised and maintained via T1 and the normally closed contacts of LS2 and PS1 connected in parallel. Contact T4 opens but solenoid A2 remains energised via PS2. Contact T2 opens and switches off solenoid D2 because R6 is now open.

When hydraulic jack D is fully retracted PS2 changes over from the position shown and energises solenoid B2 because T3 is closed and R4 is in the opposite position to that shown on the diagram. As contact T4 is open solenoid A2 will also be de-energised when PS2 changes over.

When both LS2 and PS1 have changed over from the positons shown on the diagram, relay T will be de-energised. Contact T2 will energise solenoid D2. Contact T3 will switch otf solenoid B2 and contact T4 will switch on solenoid A2 (as soon as solenoid D2 is energised, PS2 will change over to the position shown on the circuit diagram and consequently contacts T3 and T4 are not really necessary. They are included to ensure that all three solenoids are actuated simultaneously).

As hydraulic jack A moves out LS2 will return to the position shown in the circuit diagram, but contact T1 will not be open and relay T will not be re-energised. Contacts PS1 will also change over to the position shown.

When hydraulic jack A is fully extended LS1 will change over to the opposite position to that shown on the circuit diagram and this will re-start the sequence of operations via R1 if the automatic repetition of the cycle has been selected.

Preferably all the relays operate on a DC. supply because this results in economy. It is important that the supply shall be full wave-rectified or alternatively that smoothing condensers of about two microfarads capacity are connected across each relay coil (for example as shown connected across relay Y).

The simplest method to stop the operation at the end of the next cycle is for the operator to change the switch MA from auto to manual. If this is not acceptable one of the reset type of stop buttons could be connected in series with it.

The emergency stop can be efiected by switching off the complete supply to the equipment, as this will cause all the solenoids to retract immediately. If desired, an extra relay could be supplied to achieve this from a stop button.

I claim:

1. A type casting machine having in combination a mould carrier for holding either a slug mould or a strip mould, carrier operating means for moving said carrier to bring the required mould into casting position, a metal pot assembly for holding molten casting metal and including a plunger for forcing said casting metal through an outlet therefrom, plunger operating means for reciprocating said plunger, pot operating means for moving said pot assembly towards and away from one side of said mould carrier to bring said outlet into register with the mould in casting position, a clamping block assembly for holding a set of matrices for slug casting and a stripgripping device for strip casting, clamping block operating means for moving said clamping block assembly towards and away from the other side of said mould carrier to bring said matrices or said gripping device as the case may be into register with the mould in casting position, operating means for said gripping device, and means for controlling said carrier operating means, said pot operating means, said plunger operating means, said clamping block operating means and said strip-gripping operating means whereby slugs can be cast when matrices are held in said clamping block assembly and alternatively continuous strip can be cast and can be drawn from said strip mould by operation of said clamping block and said strip-gripping device.

2. A type casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said series of ram and cylinder assemblies includes a hydraulic jack mounted between and connected to said pot assembly and said clamping block assembly, spring means for normally urging said clamping block assembly up to said mould carrier and locking means for looking said pot assembly in its casting position, whereby said hydraulic jack operates as a whole during slug casting to move said pot assembly and said clamping block assembly but operates only said clamping block assembly when said pot assembly is locked against movement during strip casting.

3. A type casting machine as claimed in claim 2, and wherein said pressure fluid system and said electrical control system include solenoid operated valves for said and with said strip-gripping operating means, said limit switches and pressure switches being connected in said. electrical control system with relays for enabling each. step after the first in the cycle of casting operations to be initiated by completion of the preceding step.

4. A type casting machine having the combination of elements claimed in claim 2, including a machine frame,

parallel horizontally slidable rods supported in said frame,. means for supporting said pot assembly slidably on said:

rods, means for mounting said clamping block assembly on one end of said rods for reciprocation thereby, a tie bar interconnecting the other ends of said rods, and means for connecting the hydraulic jack to said pot and to said tie bar so as to be capable of moving said pot and tie bar independently of one another and jointly in accordance with the automatically controlled sequence of operations.

5. A type casting machine having in combination a mould carrier for holding a slug mould, carrier operating means for moving said slug mould into and out of casting position, a metal pot assembly for holding molten casting metal and including a plunger for forcing said casting metal through an outlet therefrom, plunger operating means for reciprocating said plunger, pot operating for moving said pot assembly towards and away from one side of said mould carrier to bring said outlet into register with the mould in casting position, a clamping block assembly for holding a set of matrices, clamping block operating means for moving said clamping block assembly towards and away from the other side of said mould carrier to bring said matrices into register with the mould in casting position, spring means for normally urging said clamping block assembly up to said mould carrier, a hydraulic jack operated by pressure fluid in a pressure fluid system, control means for said system, said hydraulic jack being connected to said pot assembly and said clamping block assembly for moving said two assemblies independently of one another and jointly as dictated by said control means.

6. A type casting machine having the combination of elements claimed in claim 5, including a machine frame, parallel horizontally slidable rods supported in said frame, means for supporting said pot assembly slidably on said rods, means for mounting said clamping block assembly on one end of said rods for reciprocation thereby, a tie bar interconnecting the other ends of said rods, coil springs surrounding said rods between said frame and said tie bar and constituting said spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/37 Burt 199-47 X 8/47 Burt 199-47 ROBERT E. PULFREY, WILLIAM B. PENN,

Examiners. 

1. A TYPE CASTING MACHINE HAVING IN COMBINATION A MOULD CARRIER FOR HOLDING EITHER A SLUG MOULD OR A STRIP MOULD, CARRIER OPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIER TO BRING THE REQUIRED MOULD INTO CASTING POSITION, A METAL POT ASSEMBLY FOR HOLDING MOLTEN CASTING METAL AND INCLUDING A PLUNGER FOR FORCING SAID CASING METAL THROUGH AN OUTLET THEREFROM, PLUNGER OPERATING MEAN FOR RECIPROCATING SAID PLUNGER, POT OPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID POT ASSEMBLY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID MOULD CARRIER TO BRING SAID OUTLET INTO REGISTER WITH THE MOULD IN CASTING POSITION, A CLAMPING BLOCK ASSEMBLY FOR HOLDING A SET OF MATRICES FOR SLUG CASTING AND A STRIPGRIPPING DEVICE FOR STRIP CASTING, CLAMPING BLOCK OPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CLAMPING BLOCK ASSEMBLY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID MOULD CARRIER TO BRING SAID MATRICES OR SAID GRIPPING DEVICE AS THE CASE MAY BE INTO REGISTER WITH THE MOULD IN CASTING POSITION, OPERATING MEANS FOR SAID GRIPPING DEVICE, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID CARRIER OPERATING MEANS, SAID POT OPERATING MEANS, SAID PLUNGER OPERATING MEANS, SAID CLAMPING BLOCK OPERATING MEANS AND SAID STRIP-GRIPPING OPERATING MEANS WHEREBY SLUGS CAN BE CAST WHEN MATRICES ARE HELD IN SAID CLAMPING BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND ALTERNATIVELY CONTINUOUS STRIP CAN BE CAST AND CAN BE DRAWN FROM SAID STRIP MOULD BY OPERATION OF SAID CLAMPING BLOCK AND SAID STRIP-GRIPPING DEVICE. 